Connect with us

North Dakota

The worst in more than a decade: looking back at the Red River Valley spring flooding that is finally receding

Published

on

The worst in more than a decade: looking back at the Red River Valley spring flooding that is finally receding


BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – The rivers are lastly receding, however it’s been a months-long flood struggle for a lot of in japanese North Dakota.

A scene that seemed like this in Drayton in mid-Could, has now improved to this.

Flooding in Drayton on Could 9 (left) in comparison with June 5 (proper)(ND DOT)

And when water was as soon as on the interstate close to Pembina, that scene has additionally improved.

Flooding in Pembina on May 9 (left) compared to June 5 (right)
Flooding in Pembina on Could 9 (left) in comparison with June 5 (proper)(ND DOT)

However the impacts of the overland and river flooding from the previous couple of months will final.

Total, it’s been the worst spring for flooding within the Pink River Valley in additional than a decade.

Advertisement

The 1997 flood continues to be the hallmark occasion all through the area, particularly in Grand Forks, with the flood of 2009 putting excessive within the rankings for a lot of cities within the Valley. As an example in Pembina, the 1997 crest nonetheless holds the file with this 12 months’s peak occurring on Could 7 in third place.

These satellite tv for pc photos from 2020 versus 2022 present what regular circumstances ought to appear like in contrast with simply how a lot of an aerial extent the flood waters consumed once they had been at their peak in mid-Could

Satellite images over the Red River Valley from May 2020 (left) compared to May 2022 (right)
Satellite tv for pc photos over the Pink River Valley from Could 2020 (left) in comparison with Could 2022 (proper)(NASA)

One 12 months in the past, these areas had been begging for rain as they had been in a extreme to excessive drought, however the sample drastically modified particularly heading into final winter.

“Again within the late-January and February timeframe, we had been considering it was going to be a giant difficulty as a result of we had been coping with so many winter storms,” stated Greg Gust, warning coordination meteorologist with the Nationwide Climate Service in Grand Forks.

And the moisture saved coming, with top-ten precipitation totals for meteorological spring in each Grand Forks and Fargo.

Meteorological Spring (March-May) precipitation totals for Grand Forks and Fargo
Meteorological Spring (March-Could) precipitation totals for Grand Forks and Fargo(KFYR)

“And it doesn’t cease. So we get per week of break, or 5, six days of break. After which we get one other one to two-inch rain. So you’ll be able to see that that sample simply continued the place nothing was getting an opportunity to dry off,” stated Gust.

Because the water continued to pile up, farms had been inundated and dams even wanted to be stabilized with sandbags.

Advertisement

“These enormous panorama floods do have an effect on these rural areas, there’s plenty of efforts in place and try to mitigate these by these sort of issues, however it simply takes time and {dollars},” stated Gust.

And because the water slowly recedes this 12 months, these in japanese North Dakota are hoping for a break from the rain.

Cities within the Pink River Valley are nonetheless tallying the prices of the flooding, however leaders say the quick tempo of this 12 months’s flooding was an added problem.

Copyright 2022 KFYR. All rights reserved.



Source link

Advertisement

North Dakota

Live box score: No. 7 UND at No. 2 North Dakota State

Published

on

Live box score: No. 7 UND at No. 2 North Dakota State


FARGO — The 117th meeting between North Dakota and North Dakota State will take place Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Fargodome.

Recaps of scoring plays as they happen will be posted below.

NDSU 7, UND 0, 10:39 left: The Bison move quickly on their first drive. After a questionable 15-yard pass interference on Antonio Bluiett, NDSU’s CharMar Brown scores from 2 yards out.

NDSU 14, UND 0, 2:18 left: After picking up a third-and-7, Cam Miller goes deep for Bryce Lance. Lance beats Clayton Bishop deep for a 36-yard touchdown connection.

Advertisement
Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 and 2022.

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

North Dakota

Vote 'yes' on North Dakota Measure 1, but 'no' on Measure 3

Published

on

Vote 'yes' on North Dakota Measure 1, but 'no' on Measure 3


Two statewide measures on North Dakota’s upcoming ballot offer residents a chance to make a difference in the future of the state — one is based on new economics, the other on new social norms and courtesies.

Measure 1 seeks to make changes to how the state Constitution defines institutions in Grafton, Devils Lake and Jamestown. Measure 3 seeks to decrease the funding that can be expended from the Legacy Fund during a single biennium.

Here’s a look at each:

Although a simple majority vote in the Legislature is required to place a proposed constitutional amendment before the voters, Senate Concurrent Resolution 4001 passed without a single “no” vote during the last legislative session.

Advertisement

The real surprise isn’t that the proposal was unanimously passed, but rather that it’s taken this long. Specifically, the measure seeks to change the official name of the state institutions to be more in line with societal evolution that has taken place over the decades. It would change the State School for the Deaf and Dumb in Devils Lake to the State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; the State Hospital for the Insane in Jamestown to the State Hospital for Individuals With Mental Illness; and the Institution for the Feeble Minded in Grafton to a “facility for individuals with developmental disabilities.” The latter already has been called the Life Skills and Transition Center, but Measure 1 will make it official.

We urge a “yes” vote on Measure 1, and may this be the last time those phrases are used in print.

A statewide vote in 2010 established the Legacy Fund, a piggy bank for the people that collects 30% of tax revenue from oil and natural gas extraction in the state. In its first 13 years, the fund grew past $9 billion.

Now, a constitutional amendment seeks to decrease the amount of principal available for spending each biennium, from 15% to 5% of the total. The amendment would provide for distribution from the Legacy Fund to a Legacy earnings fund, rather than have the accrued earnings be sent to the state’s general fund, as currently happens.

We don’t like the proposal. Why put constraints on future spending, especially if some sort of tragedy or emergency occurs?

Advertisement

And what about the next great idea — one we cannot fathom today but one that might require a large and expedient expenditure to push it to fruition?

Measure 3 seems like an idea not to spend money. We believe North Dakotans should embrace the state’s prosperity. The Legacy Fund was established to provide a better future for the state, and it’s time to start thinking about what that future will look like.

Vote no on Measure 3.

This Forum Communications Co. editorial represents the views of Forum Communications Co., this newspaper’s parent company. It was written by the FCC Editorial Advisory Board.

Advertisement
By
FCC Editorial Advisory Board
The FCC Editorial Advisory Board is a collection of Forum Communications Co. leaders and editors who advise management and write editorials and commentary on the company’s editorial positions and operations periodically.
Readers may contact the editorial board via email:
fccadvisory@forumcomm.com





Source link

Continue Reading

North Dakota

ORLP Program awards North Dakota a grant of nearly $4.5 million for development projects

Published

on

ORLP Program awards North Dakota a grant of nearly .5 million for development projects


GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFYR) – A grant of nearly $4.5 million from the National Park Service is giving the City of Grand Forks a chance to begin one of its projects that will create more recreational activities in the area.

Thanks to the funding the state received from this grant, the City of Grand Forks is being provided with $3,489,750 to cover phase one of a three-phased masterplan to enhance the Grand Forks Downtown Gateway and Greenway.

“This funding was available, and we met with the North Dakota Parks and Recreation, with Char, and said ‘Is there any chance at all that our project would qualify for funding?’” said Kim Greendahl, Greenway specialist for the city of Grand Forks.

This is the first time the state of North Dakota has qualified for this grant since the beginning of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program in 2014.

Advertisement

This year, the program awarded the largest grant investment in its history, giving nearly $254 million in 24 states. To qualify, communities needed to have populations of 30,000 or more.

“Before, the requirements were more stringent; populations of 50,000, so a lot of the cities in North Dakota didn’t qualify, but this year it was opened up to multiple cities,” said Char Langehaug, grants coordinator for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.

Residents and visitors of Grand Forks can expect phase one to bring a playground area and outdoor learning space, a picnic shelter and a nature promenade. Phase two and three will bring people closer to the water and the addition of a pedestrian bridge.

“The community has really gotten behind this project and it’s exciting, lots of outdoor recreation whilst still being in a flood plain,” said Greendahl.

The City of Grand Forks says it predicts the construction of phase one will officially begin in 2026.

Advertisement

One million dollars of the funds given to North Dakota will be used to enhance the Turtle Mountain Family Recreation Area.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending